Showing results by author "Brenda Maxfield" in All Categories

Doris Glick’s beau has done more than enough to cause pain to his family and everyone in the district. Surely, he is finished causing upset. But, no. Now, his carelessness lands him in the hospital. Doris is beside herself. She’s tired of making excuses for him, tired of defending him, tired of him. But how can she break up with him when he’s hurt? What kind of person would she be?

Fern Weaver doesn’t set out to become a liar, but it happens. When her dear sister Joyce is shunned, Fern can’t abide the separation. What would it hurt to sneak off to see her? But one time turns into two, and into three, and into four...When her sister’s Englisch brother-in-law shows interest in her, Fern is caught off-guard and fears she’s made a terrible mistake. Fern’s lies also threaten her fledgling romance with Reuben Swarey. She can’t go on like this; she must decide.

Mary Sutter couldn’t get away from Hollybrook fast enough.... Her former fiancé and his new wife are expecting their first boppli by Christmas, and she doesn’t want to be there when it happens. So when she gets the opportunity to go to Ohio to help her aenti after she broke her leg, Mary goes immediately. Once in Ohio, Mary also takes over her aenti’s responsibilities with the annual Christmas bazaar. She is paired up with Daniel Bender to organize it.

Rachel Fisher struggles to live peaceably with her late husband’s aenti, who took Rachel and her son in when they needed shelter. But Barbara continually interferes with how Rachel is raising young Evan, and sparks fly. Rachel tries to get along - she really does - but Barbara pushes her to the limit. When newcomer David Wengerd moves into the district, Rachel is intrigued. But there are secrets there, something David is hiding.

Becky Kauffman loves her nanny job. Little Tommy Bookman is a charmer, with his toothy grin and mischievous eyes. His father, Englischer Travis Bookman, is also a charmer - something Becky tries her best to ignore. However, it is hard to ignore her handsome boss, who seems to appreciate her for more than the excellent care of his son. But there is Daniel Flaud, her Amish friend, who is intent on courting her. When things come to a head during a Sunday preaching service, Becky discovers where her love truly lies. But has she burned bridges beyond repair?

Julia Bontrager’s world collapses when her husband is killed in a freak accident. Suddenly a single mother with three children to raise and a farm to work, she flounders to survive. Her in-laws pressure her to return to Illinois, but Julia won’t give up her late husband’s dream; nor can she imagine living with her difficult and dominating mother-in-law. In desperation, she hires a young Amish man to take over the bulk of the farm work.

Mary Hartzler runs her shop, Bits & Bites, making just enough profit to take care of herself and her elderly aenti and onkel. When newcomer Mark Bontrager opens a bakery across the street, he unwittingly takes many of her customers, and Mary wonders how she’s going to survive. Mark Bontrager has been shunned, but he yearns for his Amish roots. When he meets Mary, his heart is stirred in a powerful way. But he’s no longer Amish, and he’s quite certain Mary has a beau. But he can’t ignore his growing feelings for this gentle Amish woman.

Anna Mast has accepted Daniel Studer’s proposal of marriage. She is giddy with excitement, and her mind spins with wedding plans. When Daniel stops by the next day, refusing to come inside, instant dread courses through her. And Anna is right to worry. Daniel has been caught by Deacon Elias using technology, and he is to come before the church for discipline.

Nearly three years ago, Collette Schmucker lost her husband to a car accident. Since then, she and her two young sons have lived with her in-laws. But Collette is ready to move on - she wants to court again, find a new love, make her own home. Her mother-in-law Ruby has a different opinion. Collette has been married once, and to Ruby’s precious son. Why would Collette want another man? Why would she not be satisfied with what she had?

Leora King’s life boils down to two things: running her parents’ farmhouse and trying to keep her cranky father happy. Both require all of her energy. She’s all but given up on finding true love; she’s all but given up on a home of her own. Johnathan comes to Green Valley for the express purpose of finding a wife and settling down. His first choice is Mae Gross. She is a pretty, nice, friendly girl, who just happens to be Leora’s best friend.

Timothy Studor barely makes it through his former fiancée’s wedding. When it’s finally over, he’s ready to flee when he overhears his friends talking. Pausing to listen, he learns that the Amish district in Green Valley, Ohio, is calling for young Amish men from Hollybrook to move there and court their women. It’s the perfect chance for Timothy to get away. Though not interested in courting again, he nevertheless volunteers.

A tragic road accident sends Leah Yoder reeling. Her mother is dead. And so is the mother of Seth Knapp. Now in charge of her household, Leah struggles to do not only her chores, but her mother’s. And when her father deserts the family, her brothers are left tending the crops. Leah reaches out to her beau Timothy for help - something she quickly regrets. Timothy is so busy, and isn’t inclined to spend too many hours helping out on the Yoder farm.

Doris Glick’s Amish beau was convicted of car theft and is in prison. Her parents are distressed about their relationship; indeed, the entire district is upset with Jordan. But Doris is undeterred. She loves Jordan Lehman and is determined to remain loyal to him. She’s sure that when they hear the complete story of what happened, everything will be cleared up. She only prays Jordan will be released by Christmas. After all, isn’t Christmas the time to be together?

Doris Glick’s beau has been released from prison - and just in time for Christmas. Doris is sure that now everything will be fine. Life can return to normal, and she and Jordan can continue their courtship, with Christmas promising to be especially dear. But Doris is wrong. Dreadfully wrong. Nothing goes as she hopes. Jordan has changed - and not in a good way. She hardly knows him anymore. Matthew Wanner, Doris’s best friend and adopted cousin, begins to court his girlfriend in earnest. Doris wants to be happy for him, but she struggles.

Debbie King is thrilled to head-up the district's Christmas Bazaar, gathering donations and organizing events with her friend Tammy. Her life feels full with this role and her budding romance with Joshua Miller—until a mysterious new neighbor moves into a nearby abandoned farm. Reuben King, distant and clearly troubled, shuts down her attempts at friendship, only adding to his intrigue.

Elaine Jutzi has a God-given gift—she knows just what to say to someone who is hurting. So surely, she can help her sister, who recently suffered a stillbirth. But things don’t go well. Christina yearns to join her boppli in heaven, and Elaine can’t seem to reach her. And then Elaine’s longtime beau decides to call it quits, thrusting Elaine into her own world of sadness.

When Moses Zook arrives in town, Nellie Peachey is intrigued. Who is this handsome stranger with the mysterious past? Moses quickly charms Nellie with his smooth talk and attentive interest, sweeping her doubts away. Edna misses her husband, who works out of state. Raising their two young children alone is challenging, but the money he sends back is essential. She convinces herself she can endure his absence a bit longer.

How could Shelah Studer’s fiancé have done such a thing? It was unthinkable. But there was no denying it, and now all Shelah wants to do is run away—far away. She decides to move in with her brother and his family in Indiana. After all, her sister-in-law is about to give birth to their fifth, so she can use Shelah’s help.

Katie Smucker didn’t set out to break the rules. The first time she saw her shunned sister and spoke to her, she nearly buckled with guilt. But every time after that, it got easier and easier. Both Katie’s sisters have left their Amish roots. Katie’s heart breaks every time she thinks about her mother never seeing her two grandchildren. Is there any way Katie can intervene? But how, without taking even more risks…

Chloe Smucker and her blind sister, Rachel, are to manage their late aenti’s raspberry farm. They will need help, and help they get—though in an unexpected way. Asher Ropp can no longer tolerate how his father makes his money. If he stays, isn’t he a party to it? He leaves home abruptly, taking refuge in what he thinks is an empty raspberry farm, planning to offer his help to maintain the place.